The Earth is round like a ball.
Maps are flat. It is hard to make a round ball flat. Some maps change the shapes or sizes. This helps us see the world.
Do you like looking at maps?
The Earth is round like a ball.
Maps are flat sheets of paper. It is hard to make a round ball flat.
When we make a map, things change. Shapes might look funny. Sizes might look wrong. This is called distortion.
Some maps show the right size. Other maps show the right shape. You cannot have both at once.
One famous map is the Mercator map. It shows shapes well. But it makes some lands look too big.
People make many kinds of maps. Each map has a special job. They help us see our world.
The Earth is a round shape. Most maps are flat sheets of paper. It is hard to turn a round ball into a flat sheet. This task is called a map projection.
Every map projection has some distortion. Distortion means things look different than they really are. Shapes might look wrong. Sizes might look wrong. You can also lose the right direction or distance. It is impossible to make a perfect flat map of a sphere.
People make many types of maps for different jobs. The Mercator projection is very famous. It keeps shapes correct. But it makes lands near the poles look much too big.
Other maps, like the Gall-Peters, show the right size for countries. But these maps change the shapes. Most atlases use a middle way. They use maps like the Robinson projection. These maps try to balance size and shape.
Scientists can even map other planets. They use math to move points from a curve to a flat plane.
Have you ever wondered how a round Earth fits on a flat piece of paper? This is a big job for map makers. It is called a map projection. A map projection is a way to turn a curved surface into a flat one.
Scientists use math to move coordinates from a globe to a plane. These coordinates are usually called latitude and longitude. This step is a vital part of cartography, which is the study of making maps. Without projections, we could not have the flat maps we use every day.
Creating a map involves two main steps. First, makers choose a model for the shape of the Earth. Most maps use a sphere to keep things simple. Other maps use an ellipsoid, which is a shape that is slightly flattened.
The second step is the transformation. This is when math moves the points from the curved surface to the flat plane. You can imagine a light shining on a globe to cast a shadow on a wall. This is one simple way to think about how a projection works.
There is a catch when making these maps. A sphere cannot be flattened without changing something. This is called distortion.
It is like trying to flatten an orange peel without tearing it. Because of this, every map must trade one thing for another. A map might show the right size but have the wrong shape. Another map might show the right shape but have the wrong size. You can never have a perfect flat map of a round world.
Different maps are made for different jobs. The Mercator projection is very famous. It is a conformal map, which means it keeps shapes correct.
However, it makes places near the poles look much larger than they are. Other maps, like the Gall-Peters, are equal-area. These show the correct size of countries but change their shapes. Many atlases use the Robinson projection instead. This map tries to find a middle ground between size and shape.
Map makers use many tools to study these changes. One way is using Tissot's indicatrix. This uses small shapes to show how much a map distorts.
They can also use colors to show where shapes or sizes change. Some maps use a cylinder, a cone, or a flat plane to start.
A cylinder can be unrolled into a flat sheet. This helps makers decide how to present the world. Whether mapping Earth or a distant asteroid, projections help us see the stars.
In the field of cartography, a map projection is a mathematical transformation. It is used to represent a curved, two-dimensional surface, like a globe, on a flat plane. This process is essential for creating any two-dimensional map. To make a projection, makers transform geographic coordinates from the globe's surface to a plane. These coordinates are usually expressed as latitude and longitude. Because the Earth is a three-dimensional object, this transformation is a complex task.
The mechanism of projection involves two primary steps. First, a maker must select a model for the shape of the planetary body. While we often use a sphere for simplicity, the Earth is actually an oblate spheroid. An oblate spheroid is a shape that is slightly flattened at the poles. For very precise topographic maps, makers use an ellipsoid model. The second step is the mathematical transformation of coordinates. This moves the latitude and longitude to Cartesian or polar coordinates on a flat surface.
All map projections suffer from distortion. This is a mathematical certainty. Carl Friedrich Gauss proved this with his Theorema Egregium. He showed that a sphere's surface cannot be represented on a plane without changing its properties. You can think of it like trying to flatten an orange peel without tearing it. Because of this, every map must choose which properties to preserve. If a map preserves shape, it must sacrifice area or distance. If it preserves area, it must sacrifice shape or direction.
Makers often use developable surfaces to help build projections. A developable surface is a shape that can be unrolled into a flat sheet without stretching or tearing. Common examples include the cylinder, the cone, and the plane. A projection might first map the globe onto a cylinder and then unroll it. The aspect of the projection describes how this surface sits against the globe. It can be normal, meaning its axis matches the Earth's axis. It can also be transverse, which is at a right angle to the axis.
Different types of projections serve different purposes. The Mercator projection is a famous conformal projection. Conformal means it preserves angles and local shapes. However, it is often criticized for enlarging regions near the poles. In contrast, equal-area projections like the Gall-Peters show correct relative sizes. These projections show the true size of countries but distort their shapes. To find a balance, many atlases use the Robinson projection. This projection compromises between area and angular distortion.
To visualize these distortions, cartographers use specific tools. One classical method is Tissot's indicatrix. This method uses small ellipses to show how scale and direction change at different points. By spacing these ellipses across a map, makers can see how distortion varies. Another method is the Goldberg-Gott indicatrix, which shows flexion and skewness. Some modern maps use color gradations to represent the magnitude of deformation. This allows a viewer to see exactly where a map is most inaccurate.
Map projections are deeply connected to mathematics and geography. The study of projections involves fields like differential geometry and projective geometry. It also relates to the use of datums. A datum is a mathematical model of the Earth used to assign coordinates. In large-scale national maps, the projection must match the datum perfectly. This ensures that the coordinates on the map align with the real world. Whether mapping the Earth or a small asteroid, projections allow us to translate a round universe into a readable format.
Where will your curiosity go next?
🖼️ Images & Media (21)
+ 9 more
More to explore
✨ What else?
Related topics you might enjoy
🔬 Go deeper
More advanced topics to explore
🪜 Step back
Simpler topics to build understanding
What is Nepedia?
A free, ad-free encyclopedia for children. Every article is written at five reading levels, so the same page works for a five-year-old and a fifteen-year-old — use the level switcher above to see this one change. No account needed to read.